We gave everything to build church, say faithful

The brick-red roof of St Joseph the Worker Church in Kangemi, Nairobi, dwarfs the hundreds of surrounding shanties in the slums.

It is an epitome of resilience and hard work that the faithful in the poor neighbourhood went through to see the completion of the 1,200 capacity church where Pope Francis met the less fortunate on Friday.

Out of their houses, they brought maize, chicken, beans, and cabbages which they auctioned to buy cement, bricks, ballast, timber and roofing materials.

Mrs Lucy Kungu has been attending mass at the church since 1970.

“We did not have money to build the church. Everything we would get we would sell in the church to raise funds. We made mandazis and porridge which we sold at the market. We knocked many doors for donations. Poor parishioners gave all to realise the dream of the church”, she says.

The church’s treasurer, Mr Peter Karanja, says: “During the rainy seasons we wade through the mud. Others choose stay away. Those of us who made it this far were pushed by strong faith”, says Mr Karanja.

Pope Francis’ visit had more than spiritual significance to the faithful. The roads have been tarmacked and the streets now have lights.

“We are elated to have been selected to host the Pope and this has also given us a bonus of a good road and electricity,” he adds.

The church played and even bigger role during the Pope’s vist; they stitched the vestment he wore during his three day visit and for the 1,000 clergy at Thursday’s Mass.

Dolly Craft, the church’s income generating wing, was given the assignment.

Ms Alice Wanjiru, who made the Pope’s vestment, says they were surprised that they were picked for the job.

“We have made several robes for the clergy, but this one was the biggest and will forever remain in our memories. It was a great honour. It was no ordinary order.”

The choice of Kangemi was a surprise. The highly congested slum has a reputation for crime, drug abuse and poor sanitation.

The open drainage stinks. There are also multiple drinking dens and intoxicated youths stagger in the morning thanks to cheap liquor.

By visiting one of the poorest slums in Kenya, Pope Francis continues to show his penchant for simplicity that has characterized his three-year-old papacy.